Axle lubricator, wiper, and dust-guard.



No.V 634,475. Patented 0st. l0, (899..

AXLE LUBBICTOR, WIPER, AND DUST GUARD.

(Appivaton Med Dec. 31, 1897.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheds-Sheet l, i

y,1 fron/vf ys.

' Patented Oct. l0, 1899. J. S. PATTEN.

AXLE LUBBICA'JTDR, WIPVER, AND .DUST GUARD.A

(Application led. Dec. 31, 1897.)

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UNITED STATES y.Bn'riiixrr OFFICE.

"JAMES S. PATTEN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

AXLE LUBRICATOR, WIKPQER, AND DUST-GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ratentn'o. 634,475, dated october 1o, 1899.

`Application filed December 31.1897. Serial No. 664,854., (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.; I

Beit known that-I, JAMES' S. PA'rrEN,'of Baltimore city, inthe State ofA Maryland have invented a new andv useful Improvement in Axle Lubricators, Wipers, and DustfGuards,

of which the following is a specification.

My present invention is the result of long observation of and practicalexperience with vdevices for lubricating ear and locomotive axles. apparatus the best means which such experience suggests and prolonged and successful use on a locomotive in actual run-ning service demonstrates as desirable forapplyinglubricant to an axle-journal, also for removing surplus oil therefrom and prevent-in g escape and Waste of the same, also for excluding dusty from the ordinary axle-box in Ywhich the ap-Y` paratus is used as a substitute for the cottonwaste usually employed. The means for ap-r plying lubricantto a journal are rollers held in a frame pivoted `transversely and centrally on a spring, so as to oscillate and yield to allow due play and self-adjustment of the rollers corresponding to the different movements and positions made and assumed by the axle-journal. The means for wiping the latter and preventing escape and waste of the lubricant include side bars or Wipers proper arranged over and laterally-of the rollers and supported by springs, also Aconcave end pieces or combined dust-guards proper and oil-baffles which are likewise supported on springs with which they are pivotally connected, so as to constantly conform to the .required position for best performance of theirfunction. The several springs or sets of 'springs supporting the aforesaid Working parts are secured to a.

flat metal base, which vin practice rests 'on the bottom of the axle-box. Thus the entire apparatus is practically one structure adapted:

for convenient insertion in and removal from an axle-box. l

In the accompanying drawings, (three sheets,) Figure l is a plan view of my invention. Fig. l isa detail view hereinafter referred to. Fig-2 is a side View of the same. Fig. 3,"Sheet 2, is an end view of the same. Fig. 4 includes two cross-sections of the dustguard proper, the same illustrating two stages of construction in the application of packing. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative It combines in one lightand compactv form of spring for supporting the roller-car- Yrying. frame. Fig. .6 is a perspective View of va cellar or locomotive oil-box proper in which my `invention is used. Fig. 7 is avertical section of another form of cellar or oil-box in which a modified form of spring-frame for supporting the roller-carrying frame and dustguard is arranged. Fig. S is a plan view of such frame. Fig. 9, Sheet 3, is a vertical cross-section of a locomotive axle-box journal and my improved apparatus in. situ. Fig. 10 fis a longitudinal section of the same parts as A1 shown in Fig. 9.

Asshown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, all the movable l and working parts are attached to a bifurcated basefplate 1. The rollers 2, which in practice 'take up and apply the lubricant to the axle,

are mounted rotatably in bearings formed in the bifurcated ends of an oblong.. skeleton 'frame which is supported on and loosely attached to the free end of a plate-spring 4.' Such rollercarrying frame 3 is arranged transversely to the axlefjournal a and box l),

Figs. 9 and l0, whereby they are adapted to rotate by contact with the under side of the journal a on'v opposite sides of its median longitudinal line. The spring 4: is arranged longitudinally on the base-plate l, and its free end portion is bent or crimped, as shown at 5,Fig. l, thus forming an obtuse angle in the spring, whereby I provide for secure pivotal attachment as well as oscillation of the'roller-frame 3 vand the attached rollers 2f-thatis to say, thesaid frame 3 has two parallel perforated lugsG, Figs. la and 9, pendent from its central cross-bar 3, through which lugs'passes a stout rivet 7. The sprin g l lies between the said bar and rivet, and the latter lits loosely in the crimp, so that while accidental detachment of the roller-frame 3 is prevented it may tilt or oscillate freely, f

and the rollers 2 thereby constantly adapt themselvesfto the journal ct as it shifts in the IOO duly-flexiblc material, such as malleable iron or brass.

In use the lower portions of the rollers 2, Figs. 9 and 10, run in liquid lubricant or oil contained in the cellar or box b, and by their rotation take up and transfer the same copiou'sly to the journal a. An excess of the lubricant is prevented reaching the bearing, and the same is also spread evenly over the side of the same by means of the longitudinal or side wipers 9, which are straight metal bars having downwardly-curved ends and provided interiorly with soft ilexible pads 1,0, that work in contact with the sides of the journal and scrape the same as it rotates. Said bars 9 are riveted to the ends of the U-shaped plate-springs 11, which are in turn riveted at their middle to lateral projections or ears 12 of the roller-frame 3. (See Figs. 1, 2 and 3.) It is apparent this arrangement of parts affords an elastic or yielding support for the wipers 9, so that the latter are always in due working contact with the axle-journal.

The combined dust-guards and oil-baffles 13, which are duplicates, are constructed and arranged as follow: Each consists of a metal plate, having a flat out/cr side provided with horizontal ribs 14: and 15, and a concave upper side adapted to 'fit the axle-journal a. It is also provided with lateral ears 16, that project inward and are adapted to work in contact with the journal, so as to serve as wipers that supplement the function of the side wipers 9, before described. Soft flexible pads 17 are attached to the concave edges of these plates 13 to form the surfaces of contact with the axle-jou rnal. The dust-gu ards are hinged to and supported by the curved plate-springs 18, which are riveted to the branches or arms of the base-plate 1 and arranged parallel, their convex sides being inward or next the rollers; The points of attachment of the springs 1S to the d ust-guards are on the inner sides and near the lower portion of the latter.

In practice the dustguards 13 are pressed downward by the axle-journal a and held vertical by contact with the ends of the oilbox b, as shown in Fig. 10, and in such position the ribs 1i serve as so many baffles, preventing the oil, when the car makes sudden lateral movement, from flowing up and passing over the concave edge of the box and thereby becoming Wasted. The upper ribs 15 aid in holding the dust-guards parallel to the end of the oil-box l), so that both ribs 14: act efficiently as baffles.

The friction parts or Scrapers proper 10, and 17, of the side wipers 9 and dust-guards 13 are formed preferably of strips of leather, which material is capable of wear and use for a long period and possesses duc softness and flexibility. The said strips are held in grooves or sockets formed in the respective parts 9 and 13. To permit the latter to be drawn from the casting-mold, the inner sides or 'fiangcs 19 of the said grooves or sockets are formed straight and at a right angle to each other, as shown in Fig. 4, and are subsequently bent or crimped'to clamp the sides of the leather strips, as also shown in the same figure. The sides or flanges 19 are also divided transversely into short sections, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9, to adapt them to be easily.

folded without crimping or buckling, a feature which is practically important. The curved portions of the side wipers 9 may be similarly divided and constructed in sections, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and, in fact, I may in some cases construct the entire anges of the wipers 9 in sections throughout their length.

I have thus described an apparatus adapted to be used in the ordinary oil-box of a locomotive or truck and which lubricates the journal more freely and uniformly than is practicable with the cotton-waste usually employed and with a much less consumption of oil, which requires inspection or attention only at comparatively long intervals, and thus dispenses with the labor, delay, and expense incident to the usual practice of removing the waste and oil after a comparatively short run and which prevents escape and loss of oil from the box and also the entrance of dust, dce., as usual in the old form of axle-box. The value and importance of the invention from the standpoint of economy in running expenses, superiority in lubrication, and safety from hot boxes are therefore apparent.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I show a modiiied form of frame and arrangement of springs for supporting the roller-carryin g frame and the dustguards,-no side wipers being employed. The skeleton baseframe 1n is so curved longitudinally as to adapt it to the form of the box b', and the crimped spring 4L and curved springs 18*l for supporting dust-guards are both riveted to end bars of the frame 1n. The side wipers 9 are unnecessary and dispensed with when the construction shown in Fig. 9 is adopted-that is to say, the lower edges 21 of the brass c are beveled or sloped inward, also the top edge 22 of the oil-box b and the intermediate portions 23 of the hanger d. By

`this construction the journal a is wiped and the surplus oil returned into the oil-box without allowing any escape laterally.

Owing to the position of the oil-boxes in relation to locomotive axles and wheels it is difficult to obtain access to them and inspection of their contents is practically impossible. Frequentinspectionis not necessary when my improved apparatus is used; butin order that it may be conveniently ascertained at any time what depth-t'. e. quantity-of oil is contained in the cellar or box and to allow convenient resupply of the same I provide the box at its inner end, Fig. 6, with a rotatable rightangular tube 24, which is normally held in nearly vertical position by a removable screw 25. By turning the filling-tube 24 down, the oil in th c box b maybe drawn off or its depth as- IOO IIO

oertained, as the case may require. The said tube is provided with a removable cap for eX- cluding dust, (to.

What I claim is- 1. The combined wiper and dust-guard apparatus for car-axles and axle-boxes, which consists of a fiat base-plate adapted to rest on the bottom of an axle-box, curved springs attached to the ends of said plate, and concave dust-guards pivoted on their free ends and held pressed upward against the journal and axle-box, the intermediate spring 4, a rollerframe attached thereto, and rollers j onrnaled on each end of said frame and adapted to work on the sides of an axle-journ al, as shown and described.

2. A combined axle lnbricator, wiper and dust-guard, comprising a base-plate, a spring attached to the latter, `rollers and a carryingframe therefor which is supported loosely on the free end of the spring, the curved end springs attached tothe base-plate, and the dust-guards and wipers pivoted to the free ends of said end springs, and thus adapted to press against and remain in close contact with the ends of an oil-box, substantially as shown and described.

3. The dust-guard and wiper, consisting of a plate having a concave wiper edge and horizontal ribs on its outer side, and springs for supporting the aforesaid plate, combined substantially as shown and described.

4. The combined dust-guardand wiperc0mprising a metal plate havingaconcave upper edge provided with a pad of relatively vsoft material, and two or more horizontal ribs on its outer side, and springs pivotallj7 connected with and supporting the aforesaid plate, and attached to a base plate or frame, as shown and described.

5. An axle-wiper having its working surface or edge provided with a relatively-soft pad which is secured betweenfianges, one or both of which are formed of a series ot' separated sections or fingers, capable of being bent into position to clamp the pad, as shown and described.

6. The combination, with the base-platey and two rollers having a connecting-frame provided with pendent 1n gs and rivet therein, of the plate-spring, arranged centrali)T on said base-plate, and its free end inserted between said lugs, and having a crimp as specified, whereby the roller-carrying frame is supported and adapted to rock on the convex side of said crimp and prevented becoming detached from the spring, as shown and described.

7. The combination, with the base-plate, the spring 4, attached thereto, a roller-carrying frame supported upon said spring, and two curved or U-shaped springs 1i, attached to the aforesaid frame at right angles to spring 4, and having side wipers on their free ends, as shown and described.

8. The combination wit-h the rollers and roller-carrying frame, having lateral ears or projections, of the side wipers of the journal, and U-shaped springs which support said wipers and are attached to said ears at their middle, as shown and described. p

9. The combination with the side Wipers proper and springs supporting the same of the combined dust-guards and wipers having lateral ears that extend inward toward the side Wipers and are adapted to bear upon the journal, as shown and described.

l0. The dust-guards and Wipers having lateral ears adapted to bear upon and scrape the sides of the journal, as shown and described.

ll. The combination, with the axle-journal and oil-box, of the base-plate, the com bined dust-guards and wipers having hori zontal ribs on their outer side, forming 011-" baffies as specified, and springs which are hinged to 4the dust-guards and attached to the base-plate, and adapted to press the dustguards outward againstthe end of the oilbox, as and for the purpose specified.

12. The combination with the axle-journal and oil-box of the oil take-np and transfer rollers, a transverse frame carrying the same,

va spring supporting said frame, side wipers for the journal which are arranged over the rollers and composed of bars having pads, springs supporting the wipers elastically, and a base plate or frame, as shown and described.

JAMES S. PATTEN.

lNitn esses J. MIDDLE'roN, VAMos W. HART. 

